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Derelict properties worry city Terrace’s city council has been meeting behind closed doors to discuss what action the city can take on derelict properties in Terrace should they not be brought up to community health, safety or appearance standards. “Council has been meeting to talk about what it can do in the event that requests for the properties to be brought up to standard are not met,” said Terrace city councillor Bruce Bidgood. “I think that people should know that the City of Terrace takes complaints regarding these community standard bylaws very seriously.” After an accumulation of public complaints that sparked municipal warning letters to shape-up properties under the city’s nuisance bylaw, the city is waiting to see ownermade promises to improve 4520, 4450 and 4440 Little Ave. come to fruition. In the mean time, Bidgood said council has been reviewing what it can do in case stan-
dards aren’t met. “It is nice to see council contemplating action,” said Bidgood, adding he thinks there’s more of an appetite on council now to ensure buildings across the city are kept up to community standards. “I think council in general is looking to have more impact.” City planner David Block reported he has talked with owners of the three properties who have made plans to improve the sites and that files on each are being reviewed independently. “Maintenance of the site, removal of junk or materials, maintaining the security of a vacant building … those are the basics around the nuisance issue,” said Block. “If it’s becoming an unsafe situation for fire hazard, if it’s not being secured, trespass … potential for children or others... [council] can move forward with a remedial order.” Remedies that could be applied should the
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
properties not be brought up to standard vary, he said, adding a demolition order is not the only option available. “Whatever remedial order or action council takes, the property owner always has an option to appeal or respond,” Block said, adding at least one property is expected to come into council’s chambers for review this year. The owner of one property on Little Ave. George Vogel said he has been chipping away at work to improve his property, which takes time and can be weather dependent depending on the job. “I trimmed all the maples and brush,” said Vogel, adding he plans to improve the building’s façade that is facing the street and has started cleaning up the yard and has removed some plywood front the windows. Window panes will take time to replace, he said. “This is my house, it’s a private residence,” Vogel added.
MARGARET SPEIRS PHOTO
■■ Ghosts, goblins and ghouls This guy is one of many Halloween decorations on the front and side lawns at Larry Houlden’s residence on McConnell Ave. Shelly Houlden makes the majority of the creatures, including a ferris wheel adorned with skulls in the front yard. The ghouls and goblins are lit up at night for extra spookiness and range from cute ghosts to Frankenstein and the headless horseman.
Nisga’a election ramps up NISGA’A CITIZENS are heading to the polls Nov. 7 for the fourth time for national and local elections since the Nisga’a Nation’s groundbreaking final agreement was signed with the provincial and federal governments in 2000. At stake are seats in the executive ranks of the national Nisga’a Lisims Government, in the four Nisga’a village governments in the Nass Valley and in the three Nisga’a urban locals of Terrace, Prince Rupert and Vancouver. The president, secretary-treasurer, chairman and chair of the council of elders positions in the national government are elected by all Nisga’a voters while village and urban local representatives are elected by citizens living within their respective jurisdictions. Representatives for the Nisga’a legislative assembly, the Wilp Si’ayuukhl Nisga’a, are drawn from those elected to the executive positions and to the village government and urban local positions. Although this is to be the fourth general election since the final agreement was signed in 2000, Nisga’a citizens took part in a 2010 presidential by-election held to replace Nelson Leeson who passed away in office. That by-election was won by Mitchell Stevens who is running again. His opponents are Eva Clayton and Charles Morven. The successful candidate will be dealing with a number of critical events over his or her four-year presidency. Nisga’a citizens begin paying income tax next year, there’s a growing movement toward private ownership of Nisga’a land and an agreement for financial transfers from the federal government to the Lisims government will have to be renegotiated. Those elected serve four year terms. For the first time, there will be a polling station in Prince George for Nisga’a living there. Read more about the presidential candidates on Page 5.
Haunted past
Towers of power
Slap shot
Halloween traditions can be traced back to centuries ago \COMMUNITY A17
The first towers that will support the Northwest Transmission Line are up \NEWS A16
Terrace bantam girls’ hockey team starts off its season strong \SPORTS A30